This episode of “Thermal Lens” features Mary Langsdale, an Environmental Scientist at King’s College London. Mary has a background in mathematics and a Phd in remote sensing.

In this episode, Mary delves into her recent multi-national ESA and NASA co-funded air-borne and ground campaign that aimed to quantify the effect of directionality on land surface temperature (LST) data. She elaborates on the significance of directionality in LST measurements, exploring techniques and data requirements for its accurate assessment. Issues surrounding data availability, correction methods, and the implications for downstream applications are also discussed. Mary emphasizes the need for better validation strategies and the potential of AI to process large-scale remote sensing data. Lastly, she offers insights into the essential skills and mindset required to excel in the field of remote sensing.

This episode is hosted by Jennifer Susan Adams, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich and Rachana Mamidi, Space Engineer & Podcaster based in Berlin.

Links to resources mentioned in the episode:

1. ESA & NASA airborne and ground campaign in Italy - https://www.nceo.ac.uk/article/airborne-and-ground-campaign-in-italy-during-summer/
2. Blogpost on the campaign - https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/enhanced-sensor-design-developed-by-kings-accuracy-of-monitoring-for-heatwaves-wildfires
3. Review paper on directionality - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425719303232

Chapters

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:07) - Episode Summary
• (01:52) - What is directionality and what drives it (ESA & NASA airborne and ground campaign)
• (09:35) - Quantifying, correcting and accounting for directionality
• (16:53) - Implications for sensors, products and applications
• (25:39) - Deep dive into the ESA & NASA airborne and ground campaign
• (32:04) - What to look for as a non-expert
• (35:29) - Other challenges in LST and changing landscape of thermal remote sensing
• (41:04) - What should you study if you want to get into TIR remote sensing?
• (43:03) - The role of AI in remote sensing
• (45:55) - Publications and resources on the ESA & NASA campaign